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Raise a glass to Margaritaville and 9 more Texas travel tidbits for January

Texas is home to two Margaritaville resorts.

Courtesy photo

Texans who've resolved to take more vacations in the new year can start with a quick getaway this month. From blockbuster art and theater to wine, rodeos, and hotel and spa deals, there a plenty of ways to fill an itinerary in all of Texas' hot spots. Here are 10 events and happenings to help plan a fun-filled getaway in January.

Along the Gulf Coast

The Margaritaville Beach Resort on South Padre Island is already earning a name for itself after its summer 2023 opening. The tropical resort was recently named one of the best new hotels in the nation by USA Today, whose nominees were chosen independently by editors, travel experts, and readers. It was the only Texas hotel on the list – ranking No. 6 – with USA Today praising the chain's on-site restaurants, bars, and its "over-the top" fun atmosphere. Swimming in the year-round heated pool and relaxing at the resort's Sapphire Spa are undeniably enticing winter escape activities. Room rates at Margaritaville begin at $140 per night.

Around Texas

In anticipation of the new Mean Girls musical, Hotel ZaZa properties in Austin, Houston, and Dallas are debuting a Mean Girls "Fetch" package for travelers booking stays January 12-28. Guests will receive a $50 credit for room service mimosas, a "burn book" in-suite game, a "Regina's Radiant Renewal" facial from the hotel spa for two guests, and two bright pink robes which guests can take home. Guests can use the code "FETCH" while booking directly on Hotel ZaZa's website. Nightly rates for the Mean Girls "Fetch" package start at $785, and decrease as more nights are added.

Hiatus Spa and Retreat - with locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston - are going all in on the "new year new you" ethos of January. Their "The Winter Fire Epic Retreat" features a rejuvenating facial, a calming body treatment, and a manicure/pedicure special. Guests can also take advantage of the spa's "Peel Deal," which grants a free add-on service if a guest purchases a medical grade chemical peel, or the ultra-gentle "29 Again Facial" ($129-$205), or deep-cleansing "Best Facial Ever" ($159-$205). Services under the "Winter Fire Epic Retreat" range from $109-$205. Guests can book at their preferred location on Hiatus Spa's website.

In Houston

Houston's bustling art scene gets bigger and better with every year, and 2024 has kicked off with with a surge of can't-miss new art exhibits and galleries. Choices include centuries of African American art in a special traveling exhibition on display at the Holocaust Museum, provocative contemporary art at the Blaffer Museum, and a mixed arts festival at the MATCH. Ticket prices vary, so make sure to check CultureMap's event calendar and museum websites for more information.

If the ideal getaway involves a shopping spree, The Sale Houston's 10th anniversary extravaganza should be on your can't-miss list. The three-day weekend event at the Bayou City Event Center, from January 11-13, will feature over 50 popular Houston stores offering discounts that start at a tempting 20 percent and soar up to 75 percent off, making it easy to score stylish finds at prices that won't break the bank. One-day general admission begins at $30 ($40 at the door), and two-day general admission is $50. A Thursday VIP preview shopping event with re-entry access for the remaining days is $250. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.

In San Antonio

Tim Burton fans only have until Sunday, January 14 to catch the McNay Art Museum's The Nightmare Before Christmas exhibition in celebration of the stop-motion film's 30th anniversary, but there's still plenty to see to keep visitors coming back for more. New exhibitions include "Eye of a Collector: The John M. Parker Jr. Bequest," which details a San Antonio native's journey collecting minimalist and conceptual art; and "Latin Exoskeleton" by brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre, which transforms the museum's AT&T Lobby wall by combining trompe l’oeil wallpaper with lenticular images. General admission ranges from $10-$20, with free admission for museum members, veterans and their families, and children aged 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased via the museum's website.

In Austin

A breathtaking Italian circus is splashing into Austin with high-flying mermaids and pirates at Barton Creek Square from now until Monday, January 15. Cirque Italia's new production begins with Ringmaster “Clown Rafinha” fishing when he unexpectedly catches a bottle with a treasure map stuffed inside. Rafinha's journey continues as he faces storms on the high seas, dreams of angelic aerialists, and more. Ticket prices range from $15-$55 with discounts available for children ages 2-12, and can be purchased online via cirqueitalia.com.

In the Hill Country

Popular Texas winemakers Wine for the People and William Chris Wine Company teamed up to open a new tasting room in Fredericksburg this month, at 113 East Park St. Wine for the People founder Rae Wilson has been making wines for nearly a decade, and has previous experience as a sommelier and wine educator, making her one of the few female wine experts in the state. WCWC is also incorporating Wilson's Dandy Bubbles and La Valentína brands into its portfolio of wines. Reservations ($25 per guest) are now open, and can be made online via Wine for the People's website.

Around Dallas-Fort Worth

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is returning Friday, January 12 for three weeks of Western experiences. One of the city's biggest events of the year draws crowds to Cowtown for livestock and horse shows, bull riding, midway rides, and more, but no rodeo is complete without a slate of talented live music acts. This year's concert series includes country stars Tanya Tucker, Jamey Johnson, Sammy Kershaw, Old Crow Medicine Show, Trace Adkins, and Motown legend Smokey Robinson. Tickets begin at $44, and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.

Dallas takes command of theater arts this month, with must-see concerts, musicals, and shows throughout January. Notable productions include Dog Man: The Musical by TheaterWorksUSA, which runs January 11-28 at Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, and Theatre Three's I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change from January 18-25. AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Jagged Little Pill, based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music, and then Broadway Dallas presents Tina: The Tina Turner Musical January 23-February 4. Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue rounds out the month, January 30-February 4 at the Wyly Theatre. Ticket prices vary per show and seating arrangement.

travel texas rodeo spas arts theater south padre island resorts hotels vacations

Premium perk

American Airlines upgrades DFW Airport dining with help of Napa chef

Photo courtesy of AA

Wine-and-chocolate pairing created for American Airlines by chef Thomas Keller.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines is giving more premium travelers at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport access to one of its biggest perks: the sit-down dining experience in the Flagship lounge. And the Flagship menu itself is getting a glow-up with help from a famous Napa Valley chef.

Beginning September 15, those flying Flagship Business Plus and Flagship Business on qualifying long-haul international, transcontinental, and Hawaii routes will be able to enjoy restaurant-style dining inside American's Flagship Lounge at DFW, according to a release.

Flagship Lounge dining has previously been limited to passengers traveling in Flagship First. (Those flying Economy are out of luck, so sorry - but hey, new Portillo's!)

The expanded Flagship Dining experience is also available at American's Airport Miami International Airport lounge, with plans to reopen the private dining experience at Los Angeles International Airport in late 2026, the release says.

Menu changes
The expansion comes with a revamped four-course menu developed by American's culinary team. The seasonal menu will feature regional flavors and ingredients, including dishes inspired by the airline's various hubs, they say. Menu highlights include:

Texas pear and burrata salad
Roasted purple cauliflower steak
Flagship burger
Churro bread pudding
Mesquite-grilledbeef filet
California artisan board

AA Texas pear and burrata salad Texas pear and burrata salad.Photo courtesy of AA

Cheffy wine and chocolate
But perhaps the most notable addition is a wine-and-chocolate pairing created with chef Thomas Keller.

Keller, the chef behind California's three-Michelin-starred The French Laundry and co-founder of K+M Extravirgin Chocolate, is also a founding partner in KHK Wines. He curated a pairing for AA featuring KHK Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon with K+M chocolates and hazelnut dragées, which are also served at The French Laundry in Yountville, California.

The KHK Cabernet was made in collaboration with Napa Valley winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, whose résumé includes more than 60 Cabernet Sauvignons that have received 100-point scores, the release notes.

Keller says the wine partnership grew out of longtime friendships between KHK's Jim Keller, a fourth-generation Napa resident with no relation to the chef, and the Hall family of Hall's Chophouse.

"KHK is a vineyard partnership and a tribute to the longtime friendships among Jim Keller, a fourth-generation Napan with no relation to me, and the Hall family, of Hall's Chophouse. My role is to lend a chef's palate and guidance. We all share deep roots in wine, food and memorable experiences, and our vision for the perfect everyday Cabernet has come together," Keller says in the release.

The KHK Cabernet will also be available in all of American's Flagship lounges, as well as The Chelsea Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

"At American, we're continually looking for ways to elevate the customer experience and create moments that make travel more memorable," says American's SVP of Customer Experience and Design Rhonda Crawford in the release. "By expanding access to Flagship Dining and introducing new menu enhancements, including an exclusive wine and chocolate pairing from KHK Wines and K+M Extravirgin Chocolate curated by Chef Thomas Keller, we're delivering an even more elevated hospitality experience that begins well before customers step on board."

Flagship Dining is available on a space-available basis, they say. Passengers can check with the host team inside the Flagship Lounge when they arrive. If no table is available, they can be placed on an electronic waitlist.

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